Friends and family mourn death of Jefferson man

Dale E. Lentz, 63, died Sunday after an industrial accident at BAE.

Family and co-workers are mourning the death of Dale E. Lentz, who died Sunday after an industrial accident at his workplace Oct. 12.

Lentz, 63, of Jefferson, had worked for BAE Systems in West Manchester Township for 44 years.

While working, Lentz was pinned by industrial equipment and was taken to York Hospital, where he died five days later, said Deputy Coroner Steve Cosey. He died from hypoxic brain injury due to compression asphyxia.

"He was the most kind-hearted, wonderful person there ever was," Lentz's sister-in law Karen Lentz said Tuesday.

A BAE Systems news release called Lentz "a valued member of our team" and said he "was well-known and well-liked by people across our site."

"On behalf of every person at our site, I offer our deepest sympathies to Dale's family and friends for this tragic loss," Site Executive Todd Harrold said in the news release. "He will be dearly missed."

On the morning of Oct. 12, Lentz, a maintenance mechanic, was using a boom lift to perform repairs on an overhead vehicle door on one of the buildings, according to the news release. Another employee found him unconscious at 7:25 a.m.

The Occupational Safety and Health Organization said Tuesday that Lentz was pinned between the motorized lift and the overhead door overhang he was repairing.

OSHA's investigation might take a couple months to complete, said David Roccasecca, the director of the administration's Harrisburg-area office.

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There were no witnesses to the incident, according to the BAE news release. Plant officials, local union officials, and United Steelworkers International safety officials are also investigating Lentz's death.

Lentz was a member of USW Local 7687, which represents the unionized portion of the site's work force, according to the news release.

Lentz's career with BAE began in 1966 as an assembler. He also worked as a cleaner before becoming a maintenance mechanic in 1971, according to the news release.

Born in York, Lentz served as a U.S. Marine in the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged, according to his obituary.